English vocabulary · C1
Fallacy
/ˈfæl.ə.si/ · n.
It means a false idea that seems right.
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Example sentences
- He showed a math fallacy, so the answer failed.
- She found a fallacy in the plan, so they stopped.
Word origin and roots
from Latin
- fall — trick (from Latin)
Synonyms and nuances
- error (a mistake can be corrected with facts)
- myth (a false belief is widely accepted)
- mistake (something was believed or done incorrectly)
Words with the same root
fallere — trick
- false — not true or correct — a tricked version of reality
- fail — to not achieve what was attempted
- fault — an error or imperfection that causes failure
Lesson notes
Fallacy. It means a false idea that seems right. It can trick your mind, because the steps look clear but the result is wrong.
Similar words are error, myth, and mistake. Use fallacy when wrong reason seems right.
He showed a math fallacy, so the answer failed. She found a fallacy in the plan, so they stopped.
Fal means trick. Fallacy means an idea that tricks your mind and seems true.